BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- Lebanese President Emil Lahoud has left the presidential palace and stepped down from his post, after not naming a successor, and is calling on the Lebanese army to preserve the nation's security.
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud addresses the U.N. General Assembly in September.
A honor guard troops lined the walk in front of the palace for a farewell ceremony as Lahoud departed.
In the final minutes of Lahoud's term, which expired at midnight (2200 GMT), jubilant anti-Syrian demonstrators packed the streets, waving flags and setting off fireworks.
As the pro-Syrian Lahoud left the palace, he said his successor "should be a truly consensus president, and be (a) real man to stand by Lebanon the strong, that the countries of the world did not defeat."
One of Lahoud's last acts as president was to order the army to maintain security.
"There are conditions and risks on the ground that could lead to a state of emergency over all Lebanese territory as of the 24th of November 2007," said presidential spokesman Rafiq Shalala.
"Therefore, the president has entrusted the Lebanese army with security."
He said Lahoud is not declaring a state of emergency but calling on the army to maintain order. Watch how Lebanon got into this bind »
Lahoud's decision to hand security to the military leaves in place, for the time being, the government of Western-backed Prime Minister Faoud Sinioria.
The outgoing president took a swipe at that government, saying it is "illegitimate and unconstitutional -- and they know it. Even if Bush, America and the entire world said that it is a legitimate government, it is still illegitimate, and they know it."
David Welch, assistant U.S. secretary of state, said, "We think it's a good signal that so far, the army is committed and is imposing security."
There are security concerns, he acknowledged, but pointed to two statements from army commanders -- one calling for public order and one banning the carrying of illegal guns -- as a positive sign.
The development came at the end of a day when an opposition boycott kept Lebanon's parliament from choosing a successor to Lahoud.
Earlier Friday speaker Nabih Berri said in a statement that the session was postponed for a week until November 30 to give more time "for additional consultations to reach a consensus on electing a president," according to the Associated Press.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his concern at the "fragility" of the situation in Lebanon in a statement released Friday afternoon. He urged all parties to remain calm as they work to reach a compromise.
Lahoud's presidential term ended Friday at midnight (2200 GMT). Watch as fireworks light up the sky amid Lahoud's departure »
Pro- and anti-Syrian lawmakers have yet to agree on a compromise candidate to replace the pro-Syrian Lahoud.
The Syrian- and Iranian-backed opposition has suggested it might form a rival government.
Observers believe failure to settle on a candidate could create a power vacuum -- or worse. The army and other security forces were on full alert as the nation braced itself for possible violence.
The country's recent history includes near-constant factional fighting, political maneuvering and friction with Syria.
The election has been overshadowed by assassinations and attempted assassinations of anti-Syrian politicians.
In February 2005, the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut sparked widespread protests that led to the ouster of Syrian forces from Lebanon.
U.N. investigators concluded last year that Hariri's death may be linked to high-ranking Syrian officials. Syria has denied any involvement in the killings and said the U.N. tribunal investigating Hariri's death is a violation of its sovereignty.
In the past two years, four members of the Lebanese parliament have been assassinated. Watch how Lebanon got into this bind »
A general who is a powerful Christian leader, backed by Syria and allied with Hezbollah, appeared Thursday on television offering himself as a compromise candidate.
But his offer was rejected by the Western-backed majority led by Saad Hariri, son of the assassinated prime minister.
For the past few weeks, top-level mediators from France, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other countries have been trying unsuccessfully to break the deadlock.
The foreign ministers of France, Italy and Spain issued a statement saying they have tried everything, and it is now up to the Lebanese to craft a solution.
Lebanese presidents are elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term and may not serve consecutive terms, according to the CIA Factbook. Lahoud was elected in 1998, the reference book says, and in 2004 the National Assembly voted to extend his six-year term by three years. E-mail to a friend
CNN's Brent Sadler contributed to this report
Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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